Eyewitnesses reported that at least two missiles were fired from the Syrian Army airbase in Mazzeh against what is believed to be Israel targets.

The reasons for the explosions remain unknown at this point, but some locals spoke of Israeli airstrikes that hit the Jamraya area – 3 miles northwest of the capital, Damascus.

Jamraya contains a military research facility which was hit by what was believed to have been an Israeli attack in 2013.

“Our air defences are confronting an Israeli missile attack on one of our sites in the Damascus suburbs and three of the targets were downed,” state news agency SANA said, adding the attacks happened at 11:30pm on Monday.

A witness said three strong explosions were heard from the west of the capital.

While another said thick smoke could be seen rising over the area.

Rami Abdel Rahmane, the director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring, said: “Israeli planes targeted the Jamarya region near Damascus including a scientific research centre and warehouses where weapons and ammunition of the regime and its allies were stocked.”

For years, Israel have carried out airstrikes on advanced weapons systems in Syria.

In August, a former commander of Israel’s air force claims that it had carried out dozens of airstrikes on weapons convoys destined for the Hezbollah over the past five years.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will not allow Iran to establish a permanent presence in Syria.

TENSIONS: A witness said three strong explosions were heard from the west of the capital (Image: AMICHAI STEIN / TWITTER)

On Saturday, Syrian state media claimed Israeli missiles struck a military position south of Damascus, and in September Israel attacked a Syrian military site believed to be linked to chemical weapons production.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said they do not comment on foreign reports.